Complaint alleging flaws in nomination papers of Janardhana Reddy prompts investigation
Koppal: The Chief Electoral Officer has directed the Koppal District Election Officer (DEO) to launch a probe into a complaint lodged against Janardhana Reddy, the legislator representing Gangavathi constituency.
The complaint, filed by Shyam Prasad, a mining entrepreneur from Ananthapur, points out alleged discrepancies in Reddy's nomination papers, specifically concerning the omission of vehicle details in the property declaration.
In his complaint to the DEO, Prasad has emphasized the presence of multiple flaws in the papers submitted by Reddy, urging the officer to take appropriate legal action. The Chief Electoral Officer has taken note of the complaint and instructed the DEO to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Janardhana Reddy, a member of the Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha, emerged victorious in the recent Assembly elections from Gangavathi.
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Press bodies demand withdrawal of FIR Against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair
New Delhi: Several press organisations have called for the withdrawal of the FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police against Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of fact-checking platform Alt News. The FIR includes allegations of endangering India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity under s. 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The case stems from Zubair’s social media post on October 3, where he shared a video of Hindutva leader Yati Narsinghanand’s speech that allegedly contained derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad. The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), led to protests from Muslim groups across several cities. The complaint against Zubair was filed by Udita Tyagi, general secretary of the Yati Narsimhanand Saraswati Foundation, claiming the post was intended to incite violence.
On November 27, the Allahabad High Court was informed that s. 152 of the BNS and s. 66 of the Information Technology Act had been added to the FIR. While the court allowed these additions, press bodies expressed strong opposition to the charges, calling them a misuse of laws meant to stifle press freedom and dissent.
The Press Club of India described s. 152 as a "new avatar" of the sedition law, warning of its potential to silence media and free thinkers. Similarly, DIGIPUB, an association of digital news organisations, condemned the FIR as a "vindictive and unreasonable overreach" by the authorities.
DIGIPUB questioned whether the Uttar Pradesh government intends to target journalists who expose hate speech against minorities. It urged the police to shift focus to prosecuting individuals making hate speeches rather than harassing journalists like Zubair.
The Allahabad High Court has scheduled the next hearing on December 3, directing the investigating officer to provide detailed affidavits regarding the charges. Meanwhile, Zubair has sought legal protection against arrest.
